Spaceships in video games take on so many different roles depending on the game they’re in. They can be a sentient weapon, a race car of the cosmos, or a headquarters for you and your crew. We remember our favorite ships for the scenes that take place inside, the design of the hull and interiors, or the impressive story beats where they are featured.
There are so many games, both sci-fi and not, where spaceships play a huge role. Those featured here are not only well-used and conceived, but they’re also as iconic as the games they come from.
10 FTL: Faster Than Light – Player Spacecraft
Every ship has a different layout you must adapt to, as well as advantages in either maintenance or combat readiness. FTL‘s nature as a top-down roguelite makes the whole experience a bit impersonal, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing in this game.
The Kestral and its variants certainly don’t feel like a home away from home on a long journey, but rather a mobile fortress for gathering resources and killing rebels. This combined with the understandably simplistic design puts the spacecraft in last.
9 Star Fox – Fox McCloud’s Arwing
It’s hard not to imagine McCloud’s Arwing when thinking about spaceships in video games. Piloting the Arwing in Star Fox is a nostalgic memory for many Nintendo fans, the ship’s agility and firepower accentuated by the game’s unique play style.
Even compared to some of the best Star Wars games, few others make you feel this cool when dog-fighting in space. The Arwing has always had a pretty simplified design, and its mechanics unfortunately shine best in the original, keeping it in ninth.
8 Metriod – Samus’ Ship
There are many variations of Samus’ personal ship throughout the Metroid series, and all of them have their own signature quirks. The most prevalent variant, the gunship, comes from Metroid 2. It features in most games for good reason. Its sharp design, clearly based on her armor, with a sleek design and three radial feet that make animating landings easy. As opposed to some of the SUVs on this list, Samus’ ship is definitely more akin to a sports car.
It’s fast and it sees a few space battles, but the cockpit is too small to really do much in it. Prime 3 gives us a complex dashboard with various buttons to work with, but otherwise, Samus’ ship is only good for saving your game and switching the weapon loadout. This limited use both in gameplay and in the story puts it lower on the list.
7 Outer Worlds – The Unreliable
Ah The Unreliable, the first real interaction you get with Outer Worlds‘ silly, tongue-in-cheek humor. Inherited from the late Captain Hawthorne, it’s pretty small compared to some of the other ship bases on the list. It’s cozy though, with rooms endlessly customized by each new companion who boards with you.
Eavesdropping on their conversations or just chatting with the snarky AI Ada is a fun way of passing the time between missions. When it comes to design, The Unreliable is perfectly within the universe, a tin can with a little of that Art Nouveau flair. It’s not the homiest environment, and that combined with the limited activities you can do onboard keeps this ship mid-rank.
6 Mass Effect – The Normandy
Very few games have allowed you access to a ship of this capacity as a hub-world, and the Normandy is certainly one of the best. Both the SR-1, which was unfortunately destroyed, and the SR-2 are equally as beloved by Mass Effect fans. You spend so much time here as Commander Shepherd, the Normandy is practically your home and the home of all your beloved companions. Much like the Starship Enterprise, the Normandy is a noble vessel used for both battle and diplomacy.
It’s as much a character as the rest of them, though it’s sadly undateable. When you see it endangered, or else destroyed, you feel like a part of you is dying a little. Where the Normandy loses points is its overall design. It’s very mid-2000s sci-fi tech, with its chunky metal walls and holographic screens. It’s also dark, like all the time, so the overall design feels sterile, which isn’t favorable in a base.
5 Jedi: Fallen Order – Stinger Mantis
Talk about a spaceship that I’d actually love to live in. Cal and his pals cruise around on this space yacht while on their quest to restart the Jedi Order. In addition to holding some tender cutscenes of the crew hanging out on the cozy corner sofa, its interior effortlessly incorporates film inspiration into its modernist design.
Piloted by the ever-endearing Greez Dritus, this home away from home for yet another Star Wars-found family is the connecting tissue throughout Jedi: Fallen Order. It sits in fifth simply because the ship itself doesn’t have much relevance to the plot.
4 Sonic Adventure 2 – Space Colony ARK
If everything you remember about Sonic Adventure 2 hasn’t been infected by the Snapscube fandub, you probably recall this ship playing a major part. The ARK itself was home to Dr. Eggman’s grandfather, a scientist trying to find a cure for his terminally ill granddaughter, Maria.
In addition to this space station having a huge moon-blasting laser, it was also the birthplace of Shadow the Hedgehog. His backstory with Maria is genuinely touching, and he’d end up being tied to the ARK’s fate until the end. Its goofy design is iconic, but it does lose points for ripping off the Death Star.
3 Kingdom Hearts – The Gummi Ship
There are plenty of reasons why Kingdom Hearts is considered one of Square Enix’s best titles. The weapons, characters, story, and combat are usually included in that conversation, but I feel like we’re all forgetting the real highlight of this series. That’s right, it’s the Gummi ship segments (feel free to get the “Blast Off!” theme stuck in your head now). The flying minigame and customizable ship have both improved with each appearance, to the point where they’re more fun than infuriating.
This ship is stuck in third since there’s no real point to getting a high score, and it doesn’t present many challenges until the later stages. But this segment is a great way to break up gameplay monotony between stages, and the bosses in Kingdom Hearts 3 Gummi levels are really cool.
2 Halo – Halo Array
In a sci-fi space epic that goes all the way with its wild tech – including one of the best swords in gaming – the Halo Array fits perfectly. The story of the Forerunner’s battle against The Flood brings to light the true purpose of the Halos as a desperate last attempt at saving the future of the galaxy. Though we’re first introduced to these massive vessels through Installation 4, their almost ethereal beauty strikes up immediate curiosity.
Throughout the games that follow, the imminent danger of these gorgeous rings Thanos-Snapping the galaxy is constant. The Halos earn second place with their incredible design, heavy story prevalence (they’re the name of the game, after all), and function as a versatile gameplay environment.
1 Super Mario Galaxy – Comet Observatory
When it comes to design, story, and gameplay importance, Rosalina’s Observatory wins by a landslide. Super Mario Galaxy starts off pretty dark as Mario is flung into the ether with nary a friend in sight. When you arrive at the Observatory, Rosalina’s calming presence and the gentle music are a nice reprieve. Much like other great sci-fi ships, the Observatory evolves as you progress. Soon it’s full of light and life, all thanks to Mario’s efforts, which is just so pleasant.
Having each galaxy in a different part of the Observatory allows you to explore all the cute rooms. While we love the Mario Starship from SMG 2, the Comet Observatory’s incredible concept, music, mood, and story presence feel like a cosmic hug.
